Boobies are birds that live off the western coasts of Central and South America. Boobies nest on land and are carnivorous birds that search for food at sea. The Booby is said to have gotten its name from the Spanish word "bobo," which means "stupid," perhaps because European settlers observed the bird's clumsy nature on land.National Geographic: Blue-Footed Booby
Blue-Footed Booby
- Specie: Sula Neboxuii
- Natural habitat extends from Peru to Mexico
- Nest in colonies
- Nesting occurs every 7-9 months
Red-Footed Booby
- Specie: Sula Sula
- Wingspan: 4.5 feet
- Nest in trees and shrubs
- The smallest of all Boobies
Masked Booby
- Specie: Sula Dactylatra
- Largest of all Boobies
- Wingspan: 5 to 6 feet
- Only type of Booby to have a breeding cycle
References
Fast Facts
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Lifespan
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Fact:
Half of all breeding pairs of Blue-footed Boobies live off the Galapagos IslandsNational Geographic: Blue-Footed Booby
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Fact:
Blue-footed Boobies use webbed feet to keep their young warmNational Geographic: Blue-Footed Booby
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Fact:
Both male and female Boobies take care of their offspringNational Geographic: Blue-Footed Booby
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Fact:
Red-footed Booby swallows prey before flying off
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Fact:
Blue-footed Booby show off feet during mating ritual
